Historic Manassas, Inc. Participates in Statewide Main Street Training

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Luray, VA – On July 18 and 19, Alice Jones, President of Historic Manassas, Inc. and Charlyn Hasson-Brown, HMI Board Member, as well as Mr. Steve Urry, Events/Festival Coordinator, and Linda Robertson, Executive Director, participated in a statewide training presented by the Virginia Main Street (VMS) program.  Luray, a Virginia Main Street community, hosted the training, which focused on heritage tourism and how downtown development organizations can promote their community’s cultural assets and attract visitors.  According to the Virginia Tourism Commission, traveler spending in Virginia generated $16.5 billion in direct revenue in 2005, with one of the fastest growing segments being heritage tourism.

The VMS program, managed by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), works to revitalize Virginia’s historic downtowns by providing training and technical support to help Main Street communities improve and beautify their downtowns, and encourage private investment, business development, and tourism.  

Members of other VMS programs, downtown development organizations, convention and visitor bureaus, and others gathered in Luray for this intensive two-day training on heritage tourism and customer service.  Carolyn Brackett, an expert on heritage tourism with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, was the keynote speaker.  Bobbie Walker, a representative of the Virginia Tourism Commission, closed the training discussing customer service techniques and ways to deliver a positive visitor experience.

“This training emphasized how Main Street communities can tell their own, unique story to visitors and to ensure they have an experience that will keep them coming back,” said Catherine Stewart, executive director of the Luray Downtown Initiative, Inc.

For more information about local downtown revitalization efforts, contact the Historic Manassas, Inc. at (703) 361-6599.  To learn more about the Virginia Main Street Program visit the VMS Web page at: www.dhcd.virginia.gov/mainstreet, or call (804) 371-7030.

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